Each year since 1987 the University of Washington has hosted an elite field of competitors for the Windermere Cup/Opening Day races on Montlake Cut. The feature races’ sponsorship by Windermere Real Estate Inc. draws major national and international crews as part of the traditional opening of yachting season. This year’s race will take place on May 7 and will feature crews from Washington, Cambridge, Oklahoma and Stanford. Year-by-year winners of the Windermere Cup:
| Year | First | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Washington 5:39.5 | Syracuse 5:49.3 | Oxford 5:51.5 |
| 2009 | Washington 5:39.5 | Oregon State 5:52.1 | Brazil 5:59.7 |
| 2008 | Washington 5:49.41 | Poland 5:46.48 | Navy 6:00.59 |
| 2007 | Washington 5:58.89 | Purdue 6:09.09 | Univ. Waikato 6:13.86 |
| 2006 | Russia 6:04.72 | Washington 6:06.72 | Michigan 6:15.34 |
| 2005 | Washington 5:41.70 | Czech Republic 5:44.50 | Cornell 5:49.72 |
| 2004 | Washington 5:43.14 | Navy 5:49.83 | Italy 6:03.36 |
| 2003 | Washington 5:54.87 | Northeastern 6:00.36 | Poland 6:05.47 |
| 2002 | Washington 5:47.90 | Stanford 6:01.36 | China 6:36.79 |
| 2001 | Croatia 5:31.75 | Univ. Victoria 5:36.37 | Washington 5:40.21 |
| 2000 | Washington 5:42.68 | Navy 5:51.46 | Egypt 6:03.72 |
| 1999 | Washington 4:35.13 | New Zealand 4:37.65 | None |
| 1998 | Washington 5:57.40 | Nottinghamshire 6:03.6 | None |
| 1997 | Washington 5:52.78 | Australia 5:59.70 | None |
| 1996 | Washington 5:35.27 | Yale 5:38.0 | Russia 5:44.06 |
| 1995 | Washington 5:58.18 | South Africa 6:10.65 | None |
| 1994 | Washington 6:05.32 | Dutch Nat. Team 6:09.6 | Stanford 6:24.29 |
| 1993 | Washington 5:45.90 | Dartmouth 5:47.72 | Humbolt (Ger.) 5:56.79 |
| 1992 | Washington 5:48.67 | Lithuania 6:01.48 | Cambridge 6:07.66 |
| 1991 | Washington 5:42.27 | Cornell 5:42.75 | Czechoslovakia 5:44.77 |
| 1990 | China 5:56.87 | Navy 5:57.16 | Washington 5:57.29 |
| 1989 | Italy 6:13.01 | Washington 6:16.89 | New Zealand 6:18.62 |
| 1988 | Australia 6:04.14 | Washington 6:05.61 | Princeton 6:08.41 |
| 1987 | Soviet Union 5:41.16 | Washington 5:56.23 | None |